diff --git a/src/redis-cli.c b/src/redis-cli.c
index 97caf5be8..8d20d1cd5 100644
--- a/src/redis-cli.c
+++ b/src/redis-cli.c
@@ -1233,7 +1233,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
     /* Pipe mode */
     if (config.pipe_mode) {
-        cliConnect(0);
+        if (cliConnect(0) == REDIS_ERR) exit(1);
         pipeMode();
     }